Detroit Pistons coach Lawrence Frank, right, said he'll read opportunities for extra rest in the weeks ahead, while Tayshaun Prince, left, who suffered a high right ankle sprain in Saturday's win at Washington, could use some time to heal.AP Photo

AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons' collective holiday gift is a bit more sleep in the weeks ahead.

In the midst of their first three-day respite of the season, Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said that while a more liberal schedule the next few weeks will allow more practice time, it's just as important to get some extra rest.

"I think when you have days off, you balance between rest and recovery and work," he said.

Frank usually, but not always, allows a day off at the earliest convenience after five consecutive work days, with no game-day shootaround on the second game of back-to-backs. That rest protocol is always subject to revision.

"Maybe your team is in desperate need of a practice and yet the schedule says that you can't," Frank said. "Or sometimes, you read your team and they need some more time off."

The schedule-tweaking opportunities become more ample when the Pistons (9-21), the only NBA team to play 30 games, play just nine in the 28-day period that began Sunday.

The Pistons practiced Monday morning, then broke for Christmas. They reassemble tonight to fly to Atlanta for Wednesday's game against the Hawks.

The world champion Miami Heat make their only visit of the season to The Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday, the beginning of the Pistons' longest home stretch of the season, a 10-game period with eight home games, one true road game, plus the London trip, which is credited as one of their 41 home games.